Corruption fears raised at Tigers meeting

A public meeting of several hundred people last night called on the State's corruption watchdog to investigate any links between the Labor powerbroker, Eddie Obeid and the Balmain Tigers re-development.

The meeting was organised by Leichhardt Council to discuss plans to oppose the two-tower development on the former Balmain League's Club site.

While the height of the two-tower development on the former Club site has been reduced by seven storeys, there was still fierce opposition to it at the meeting.

Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne says the former Planning Minister Frank Sartor's revelations at the Independent Commission Against Corruption last week that he was "leaned on" over the project by Mr Obeid, raises serious questions.

"We've seen in just the last week, evidence at the ICAC that years ago Eddie Obeid was out there leaning on the then planning minister Frank Sartor to call it in and be a team player," he said.

"And for too long, this saga has been marked by a lack of transparency."

He called on the ICAC to investigate any links and for the Council to decide the project's fate.

"We demand that control over this site be returned to the local community in one way or another," he said to much applause from the audience.

Community members also raised concerns over possible corruption links

Balmain resident Ray Stephens told the meeting that with the current ICAC inquiry due to run until next April, there is "much more dirt to come" and some could easily relate to the re-development.

"The worst case scenario would be that this is determined and then the ICAC come out with their findings and find there is a connection," he said.

"Could you imagine the compensation then, that would be paid to certain individuals involved in this project," Mr Stephens said.